Peristaltic pump

Abstract

A pump for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit. The pump comprises a plurality of electrically operated valves, each valve being positionable adjacent to the conduit. Each valve has a valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is obstructed. The pump also comprises a driver configured to control the positions of the valve heads, so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions.

1. A driving mechanism for use in a pump for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit having a lumen, the pump including:
 (a) four electrically operated valves, each valve being positionable adjacent to the conduit, each valve having a valve head, the valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is obstructed; and 
 (b) a driver, comprising at least one electromagnet, configured to control the positions of the valve heads, so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions, 
 the mechanism comprising: 
 (a) an X shaped metal lever pivotable around an axis; 
 (b) a first auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis; 
 (c) a second auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis; 
 (d) an intermittently activatable electromagnet generating, when activated, a magnetic field between a first metal core arm and a second metal core arm; 
 wherein the magnetic field causes rotation of an auxiliary lever about the axis when extremities of the lever arm are not between the first and second core arms so as to bring the extremities between the first and second core arms. 
 
     
     
       2. A pump for generating fluid flow in an elastic tubular conduit having a lumen, comprising:
 (a) four electrically operated valves, each valve being positionable adjacent to the conduit, each valve having a valve head, the valve head configured to alternate from a first position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is unobstructed and a second position in which the lumen of the conduit adjacent to the valve head is obstructed; 
 (b) a driver, comprising at least one electromagnet, configured to control the positions of the valve heads, so as to execute a predetermined temporo-spatial array of valve head positions; and 
 (c) a mechanism comprising:
 (a) an X shaped metal lever pivotable around an axis; 
 (b) a first auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis; 
 (c) a second auxiliary lever pivotable about the axis; 
 (d) an intermittently activatable electromagnet generating, when activated, a magnetic field between a first metal core arm and a second metal core arm; 
 
 wherein the magnetic field causes rotation of an auxiliary lever about the axis when extremities of the lever arm are not between the first and second core arms so as to bring the extremities between the first and second core arms.